Pacific crab apple, Oregon crabapple • Malus fusca, Pyrus fusca • Heiltsuk/Haíɫzaqv - ɫṇ́x̌ • Nuxalk - p'c
Identification
This deciduous species is classified as both a tall shrub and a small tree. It is 2-12 m tall and branches often. The branches bear sharp thorn-like spur-shoots, and areas of older bark have deep fissures. The flowers are easily identifiable as apple blossoms - they are white or light pink, 2 cm across, and appear in bright, fragrant clusters of 5-12 flowers at the ends of branches. Pacific crabapple bears clusters of small green to yellow or reddish apples. These apples are edible but are often tart. The tree's leaves look somewhat like alder leaves - they are about 10 cm long, lance or egg shaped with a pointed end, have toothed edges, and are bright green. They may have small irregular lobes as well as toothed edges.
Habitat & Range
Pacific crab apple grows in moist to wet areas, such as moist forests, around swamps and estuaries, along the vegetation line on beaches, and on the edges of standing water. It is found from low to middle elevations in coastal areas from Alaska to California.
Similar Species
The leaves of Pacific crab apple and red alder may look similar, but overall the trees are quite different so there should be no problem telling them apart. Pacific crab apple is similar in appearance to cultivated apple tree species.
Human Uses
Pacific crab apples have long been an important traditional food source for coastal First Nations. Apple harvest occurs at the end of summer and beginning of fall, and any preservation that occurs is fairly simple - the acidity of these apples acts as a preservative, so the apples tend to soften and sweeten over time instead of going bad. The apples are traditionally stored in cedar boxes under water or a mixture of water and oil.
Some crab apple recipes can be found on the following links:
Canadian Living Crab Apple Jelly
Rosy Crabapple or Apple Pie Filling
Crab apple recipes on Pinterest
Intriguing Info
Crab apple bark was traditionally used in medicines to treat eye, stomach, and digestive tract ailments. It contains compounds that produce cyanide, so should only be used with extreme caution and prior experience.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/77948-Malus-fusca
This deciduous species is classified as both a tall shrub and a small tree. It is 2-12 m tall and branches often. The branches bear sharp thorn-like spur-shoots, and areas of older bark have deep fissures. The flowers are easily identifiable as apple blossoms - they are white or light pink, 2 cm across, and appear in bright, fragrant clusters of 5-12 flowers at the ends of branches. Pacific crabapple bears clusters of small green to yellow or reddish apples. These apples are edible but are often tart. The tree's leaves look somewhat like alder leaves - they are about 10 cm long, lance or egg shaped with a pointed end, have toothed edges, and are bright green. They may have small irregular lobes as well as toothed edges.
Habitat & Range
Pacific crab apple grows in moist to wet areas, such as moist forests, around swamps and estuaries, along the vegetation line on beaches, and on the edges of standing water. It is found from low to middle elevations in coastal areas from Alaska to California.
Similar Species
The leaves of Pacific crab apple and red alder may look similar, but overall the trees are quite different so there should be no problem telling them apart. Pacific crab apple is similar in appearance to cultivated apple tree species.
Human Uses
Pacific crab apples have long been an important traditional food source for coastal First Nations. Apple harvest occurs at the end of summer and beginning of fall, and any preservation that occurs is fairly simple - the acidity of these apples acts as a preservative, so the apples tend to soften and sweeten over time instead of going bad. The apples are traditionally stored in cedar boxes under water or a mixture of water and oil.
Some crab apple recipes can be found on the following links:
Canadian Living Crab Apple Jelly
Rosy Crabapple or Apple Pie Filling
Crab apple recipes on Pinterest
Intriguing Info
Crab apple bark was traditionally used in medicines to treat eye, stomach, and digestive tract ailments. It contains compounds that produce cyanide, so should only be used with extreme caution and prior experience.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/77948-Malus-fusca
References
Malus fusca (Raf.) C.K. Schneid. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Ed.). E-Flora BC: ElectronicAtlas of the Plants of British Columbia. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed 16/08/2013.
Malus fusca Pacific Crabapple. Washington Native Plant Society. Accessed 16/08/2013.
Pojar, J. and MacKinnon, A. (1994). Plants of Coastal British Columbia. Vancouver, BC: Lone Pine Publishing. P. 48.
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell and Brian Starzomski (2013).
Malus fusca (Raf.) C.K. Schneid. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Ed.). E-Flora BC: ElectronicAtlas of the Plants of British Columbia. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed 16/08/2013.
Malus fusca Pacific Crabapple. Washington Native Plant Society. Accessed 16/08/2013.
Pojar, J. and MacKinnon, A. (1994). Plants of Coastal British Columbia. Vancouver, BC: Lone Pine Publishing. P. 48.
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell and Brian Starzomski (2013).